Students rehearse for the 2009 production of “The Vagina Monologues.” They are, from left, Lisa Vallee '10, Genevieve St. Hilaire '10, Molly Head '11 and Beth Culp '10.
Union students are again supporting the global V-Day campaign to end violence against women and girls with their own production of “The Vagina Monologues.”
The award-winning play, written by Eve Ensler, celebrates women’s sexuality and strength. Three performances, all open to the public, will be given in Old Chapel Thursday, Feb. 12 and Friday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 14 at 2 p.m.
“Each year, the V-Day campaign spotlights a different women’s issue around the world,” said Meagan Keenan ’09, the play’s producer. “This year, Eve Ensler has focused on the Democratic Republic of Congo, where a civil war has ravaged the nation and led to the rape and sexual assault of thousands of women.”
Ten percent of the proceeds earned through the Union production will go to the national V-Day chapter. The remaining money will benefit the Schenectady YWCA Domestic Violence Shelter.
“I hope to beat last year’s fundraising goal of $2,400,” Keenan said. “If we do, we will have donated almost $10,000 to the YWCA in the four years since we brought the production to campus.”
T-shirts for sale in conjunction with the 2009 production of “The Vagina Monologues.”
This year’s production of “The Vagina Monologues,” which is entirely student-run and sponsored by the Women’s Union, features 15 students. Sami Zayas ’10 is the director.
Keenan is proud of the work she and her peers are doing to present a play that reaches so far beyond the stage on which it’s performed.
“The show, for me, is not only about raising awareness of women’s issues, but also about forming lasting relationships with the women beyond Union’s gates who live these struggles every day,” she said.
Tickets, if purchased this week in the Reamer Campus Center, are $7. They’re $9 at the door. For more information, e-mail Keenan at keenanm@union.edu. To learn more about V-Day, click here.
Many of you received my February communication regarding the effects of the economic downturn on Union. Because this is such a critical time for the College, as for all institutions of higher education, I wanted to reiterate several key points from that message. It is important to me that all members of the Union family are fully informed about the challenges we face and the steps we are taking to address them.
As I have indicated, the finances of Union College have not been spared from the effects of the economic downturn. Best estimates indicate that the value of our endowment has declined by approximately 27 percent fiscal year-to-date (that is, since June 30, 2008.) Approximately 15 percent of our operating budget comes from income generated by the endowment. It is almost certain that the value of the endowment will be down markedly on June 30, 2009, the date when we value the endowment for purposes of establishing the income that subsidizes that budget in future years.
Up Front photo. Stephen C. Ainlay.
Like many institutions, we use a three-year average of our endowment value to determine the endowment income that helps support all that we do at the College. Thus, we will only feel minor effects from the current economic downturn in next year’s budget. Looking beyond the next fiscal year, however, our operating budget is likely to be significantly affected by the current economic turmoil into 2013. We are setting aside contingency funds now to address decreased revenues and possible increased expenditures resulting from the economic downturn.
Our admissions numbers continue to provide mixed cues. Early decision applications for the Class of 2013 increased by 7 percent over last year’s record-setting figures, and these applicants continued to represent our typical outstanding academic caliber. Applications for regular admission are down by approximately 9 percent. While this compares favorably with what is happening at other highly ranked schools—some of whom have seen declines approaching 40 percent—we remain watchful.
We also anticipate that the overall financial need of families will increase due to job losses, declining asset values, and other impacts of the economic downturn. While the full implications for Union families are not clear, we certainly expect more requests for financial aid. Budget cuts proposed at the state level will have a bearing on Union and Union families. We will continue to monitor discussions in the state capital and voice our concerns.
Despite this climate, many of our alumni and friends have stepped forward with pledges of support that are truly inspiring in these difficult times. Some of you have increased your level of annual giving over past years or reached out to me personally with offers to help the College. For this loyalty and assistance, we are all deeply grateful. Now more than ever, annual giving is vital to Union’s future. Our overall level of annual giving continues to lag behind previous years, a trend which will have a direct bearing on next year’s operating budget if it continues. In this economy, supporting Union’s foundation through annual giving to the Union Fund becomes even more critical to advancing our core mission.
Fortunately, it is unlikely that we will have to make drastic cuts in spending to get through the current fiscal year, as has been necessary at some other institutions. Our planning focuses on fiscal years to come. We will continue to control and cut expenditures and seek opportunities for both immediate and future cost savings. We have already identified a number of administrative positions, currently vacant, that will remain unfilled at this point. We will carefully evaluate any other positions that become open and are taking action to control other institutional costs without damaging the educational experience of our students or the safety of our community.
We remain mindful of the situation of those who work at and contribute so much to Union, as well as the situation of families who send their sons and daughters to the College. Thus, we will seek to avoid layoffs, modestly adjust salaries to deal with equity issues, increase our comprehensive fee by a lower percentage than we have in recent years, aim to retain our policy of meeting full financial need, and develop budget models that allow us to move ahead with important building projects and address deferred maintenance needs of the campus.
The economy poses difficulties for all of us. But I am heartened by the expressions of support I continue to receive from so many of you, which speaks volumes about our strength as a community and the College’s importance in all of our lives. Know that everyone here will be working tirelessly on Union’s behalf to ensure that we emerge from this difficult period stronger than ever and protect the value of a Union degree.
I will continue to communicate with you at regular intervals regarding our challenges and our plans to address them. With the backing of our alumni, families, and friends, I have no doubt that we can continue to move Union ahead. Thank you so much for your continued support.
Union students are again supporting the global V-Day campaign to end violence against women and girls with their own production of “The Vagina Monologues.”
The award-winning play, which was written by Eve Ensler, celebrates women’s sexuality and strength. Three performances, all open to the public, will be given in Old Chapel on Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $7 in advance and $9 at the door.
Students rehearse for the 2009 production of “The Vagina Monologues.” They are, from left, Lisa Vallee '10, Genevieve St. Hilaire '10, Molly Head '11 and Beth Culp '10.
“Each year, the V-Day campaign spotlights a different women’s issue around the world,” said Meagan Keenan ’09, who is producing the play. “This year, Eve Ensler has focused on the Democratic Republic of Congo, where a civil war has ravaged the nation and led to the rape and sexual assault of thousands of women.”
Ten percent of the proceeds earned through the play’s production will go to the national V-Day chapter. The remaining money will benefit the Schenectady YWCA Domestic Violence Shelter.
“I hope to beat last year’s fundraising goal of $2,400 this year,” Keenan said. “If we do, we will have donated almost $10,000 to the YWCA in the four years since we brought the production to campus.”
This year’s production of “The Vagina Monologues,” which is entirely student-run and sponsored by the Women’s Union, features a cast of 15 students. Sami Zayas ’10 is the director.
Keenan is proud of the work she and her peers are doing to present a play that reaches so far beyond the stage on which it’s performed.
“The show, for me, is not only about raising awareness of women’s issues, but also about forming lasting relationships with the women beyond Union’s gates who live these struggles every day,” she said.
Tickets are on sale this week in the Reamer Campus Center. For additional information, e-mail Keenan at keenanm@union.edu.
On Friday, February 13, the Skating Dutchmen will host ECAC opponent and league-leading Yale. The game will be televised live across the nation on the NHL Network and in the Capital Region on Time Warner Sports Channel 3. The puck drops at 7:30 PM (Eastern time) at Messa Rink. Tune in to DIRECTV channel 215 or the DISH Network channel 403. For all other providers, please contact your local cable network. If you are interested in attending the game, click here to order your tickets online or call the ticket office for more information at (518) 388-6020.
Union has been named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction for exemplary service to the local community.
The award was announced in Washington, D.C. today by the Corporation for National and Community Service during the annual conference of the American Council on Education.
Launched in 2006, the Community Service Honor Roll is the highest federal recognition a school can achieve for its commitment to service learning and civic engagement. Honorees for the award were chosen based on a series of selection factors, including scope and innovation of service projects, percentage of student participation in service activities, incentives for service, and the extent to which the school offers academic service-learning courses.
In 2007-08, 762 Union students participated in a range of community service projects, representing more than 7,700 hours of service. Volunteers at the Kenney Community Center tutored and read to local children, acted as Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and participated in the state Volunteer Income Tax Assistant Program (VITA). Since its launch in 2005, the VITA program at Union has secured some $1.4 million in cumulative tax refunds for local residents.
Chip Miller ’09, front, and Gabe Kramer '09 and, Psi Upsilon fraternity members volunteer for Habitat for Humanity at 1124 Barrett St.
Also, the entire campus community devoted hundreds of hours of volunteer time to renovate a home the College donated to the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity for a Schenectady couple and their five children. For the 13th straight year, students, faculty and staff spruced up the city during John Calvin Toll Community Service Day. In addition, all sororities and fraternities do community service projects, as do athletic teams, many Theme Houses and clubs.
“Our students who give back to this community and to the community at large don't ask to be recognized; instead, they see that their work changes lives for the better, which is inspiring,” said Angela Tatem, Kenney Center director. “This honor may motivate even more people to recognize the value of connecting with the community in a more personal way, allowing Union to fully embrace civic commitment and a sense of responsibility.”
The Honor Roll is a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, federal agency, in collaboration with the Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation.
Union is one of nine schools in New York state and 83 schools nationwide named to the Honor Roll with Distinction. A full list of all schools recognized is available at www.nationalservice.gov/honorroll.
